California Wildfires thought to continue until the end of the month

Following days of destruction, and the death toll rising to just under 50 people with hundreds more still missing, firefighter crews are working endlessly to tackle the California Wildfires.

30% of the fire in northern California, named Camp Fire, has been contained and specialist teams are searching the ruins of the town of Paradise. Fire crews are expected to continue to fight the deadly blaze up until the end of the month.

The Woolsey Fire, which has spread across Malibu and burned 96,000 acres is 35% contained and the Hill Fire burning north of Los Angeles is 90% contained.

By the end of this week firefighters expected to have at least 40% of the fire contained.

As affected areas become more accessible search and rescue teams are sifting through the debris for human remains and the death toll is expected to rise, particularly in Paradise where elderly residents may not have been able to leave as quickly.

Wildfires are not uncommon in California with the usual season running from Summer into Autumn, but lack of rain fall and high winds mean the fires now spread at a rapid rate and are not as easily contained.

It is not known exactly how many people have lost their lives to the blazes’ but the Camp Fire, Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire have been recorded as the deadliest fires to hit the state.